There’s been a quiet stir among drivers lately, with some scratching their heads over unexpected letters arriving in the post.
What’s behind these mysterious notices—and should you be worried?
If you’ve recently opened your letterbox to find an ominous-looking letter from Revenue New South Wales (NSW), you’re not alone—and you’re certainly not the first to feel your heart skip a beat.
Across NSW, drivers have been left scratching their heads (and, in some cases, breathing a sigh of relief) after receiving mysterious speeding warning letters.
But what’s really going on? Are you about to receive a fine, lose demerit points, or have your licence suspended?
Let’s break down the truth behind these letters, why they’re showing up now, and what they actually mean for you.
A letter that’s more tap than slap
For many, the first reaction to seeing an official envelope from Revenue NSW is panic.
Visions of hefty fines and demerit points may flash before your eyes, and you might even start mentally rearranging your budget to cover the cost.
But, as many have discovered, these letters are less a financial blow and more a gentle nudge—a ‘soft tap on the shoulder’ rather than a slap on the wrist.
So, what’s the deal? These warning letters don’t come with a bill attached. There are no demerit points, no impact on your licence, and no need to start counting your dollars.
Instead, they’re a friendly (if slightly unsettling) reminder from the government: ‘Hey, you were speeding. Maybe slow down next time.’
Why are these letters popping up now?
The sudden influx of warning letters is tied to the rollout of new speed cameras across NSW.
When a new camera is switched on, the government doesn’t immediately start issuing fines.
Instead, there’s a ‘warning phase’—a period where drivers caught speeding receive a letter rather than a penalty.
Think of it as a grace period, giving everyone a chance to adjust to the new enforcement measures.
These letters include all the details: where and when you were caught, how fast you were going, and a polite suggestion to ease off the accelerator.
The warning phase typically lasts at least a month for fixed cameras, and up to two months for average speed cameras, but it can be extended if needed.
A recent example is the Rozelle Interchange in Sydney’s Inner West, where average speed cameras began operating in March 2024. For several months, drivers received only warning letters.
Now, most of those cameras are fully operational, and fines (plus demerit points) are being issued—so if you received a warning letter from Rozelle, consider yourself fortunate.
How do average speed cameras work?
Unlike traditional speed cameras that snap your speed at a single point, average speed cameras calculate your speed over a stretch of road—sometimes 15 or 16 kilometres long.
This makes it much harder to outsmart the system by slowing down just before the camera and speeding up afterwards. Instead, your average speed between two points is what counts.
During the warning phase, if you’re caught exceeding the speed limit by less than 30 km/h, you’ll get a warning letter.
But if you’re more than 30 km/h over, you’ll still face fines and demerit points—no grace period for truly reckless drivers.
Where are these cameras?
While average speed cameras have traditionally targeted heavy vehicles like trucks and buses, NSW is now trialling them for all vehicles—including cars and motorcycles—on certain stretches of road.
Notable locations include:
- Pacific Highway: Kew to Lake Innes (15 km)
- Hume Highway: Coolac to Gundagai (16 km)
The warning period for these trials ran from 1 May to 30 June 2025, with full enforcement starting on 1 July.
That’s 60 days for drivers to get used to the new regime before the real penalties kick in.
Do warning letters actually work?
Opinions are divided. Some drivers say the warning is enough to make them think twice—after all, nobody likes being told off, even gently.
Others argue that unless there’s a real consequence, behaviour won’t change in the long run.
One thing’s for sure: those digital signs that flash a sad face when you’re speeding seem to have a more immediate impact on some drivers’ behaviour than a letter arriving weeks later.
But the data is clear: speed cameras, and the warning periods that precede them, are part of a broader strategy to reduce speeding and save lives.
As Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary for Safety, Policy, Environment and Regulation, points out, ‘Speeding is one of the biggest killers on NSW roads and camera enforcement is one of the most effective, evidence-based measures to reduce speeding.’
A decade-old policy, still going strong
If you think these warning letters are a new tactic, think again.
NSW has been using them for over a decade, with each new camera installation accompanied by a warning period, clear signage, and community announcements.
The idea is to help drivers adjust their habits before the penalties start rolling in.
Once enough drivers are complying with the speed limit, the cameras switch to full enforcement mode. And remember: the law is the law, whether there’s a camera or not.
Travelling at 65 km/h in a 60 km/h zone doubles your risk of a casualty crash—so it’s not just about avoiding fines, it’s about keeping everyone safe.
Have you received one of these?
Whether you’ve received one of these warning letters or are simply curious about how speed enforcement is changing across NSW, it’s clear that the approach aims to strike a balance between education and enforcement.
With new technology and trial programs rolling out, drivers are being given more chances to adjust their behaviour before facing fines.
Have you come across one of these letters in your post? Do you think the warning phase is a fair way to help drivers adapt, or should stricter penalties apply from the start? We’d be interested to hear your thoughts and experiences—feel free to share them in the comments below.
Also read: Australians brace as speeding fines are about to get a massive overhaul
